Upgrading the exhaust system on your Corvette to get more power and torque is not difficult, but there are some things to consider as you begin to shop for parts. A Chevy Corvette exhaust system, for instance, already has some performance engineered into the design. Still, a high-quality aftermarket exhaust system will often enable you to get even more performance, especially if you are willing to replace the entire system.
Exhaust Manifolds
Exhaust manifolds on most engines are made from cast iron and are not typically good at moving exhaust gases efficiently from the engine to the exhaust system. Increasing the power and torque in the engine requires your exhaust system to scavage or remove the exhaust gases quickly and with as little turbulence as possible.
Adding a set of tubular exhaust headers in place of the manifolds in your Chevy Corvette exhaust system can significantly change how those gases flow out of the exhaust ports on the engine. Many of the headers on the market use oversized tubing to move more exhaust, and the tubes are often bent, so they are the same length and all remove the same amount of exhaust to balance the pressure in the engine.
Headers or tubular exhaust manifolds are a good starting point, but there is more to do to maximize engine performance.
Exhaust Pipes
Replacing the exhaust pipes from the headers or manifolds to the rear of the car, with larger diameter pipes that are mandrel-bent for smooth corners, can improve exhaust flow. Often the bends in the exhaust system create pockets of turbulence inside the pipe that can slow the exhaust gases down and cause performance to fall off.
Pipes that are larger and smoother can resolve this issue and keep the exhaust moving through the system and out the back of the car. There must be no restrictions in your Chevy Corvette exhaust system, so sizing the exhaust pipe correctly is vital.
Mufflers And Converters
Along with the exhaust pipes in the exhaust system, the muffler and the catalytic converters need addressing. The factory mufflers and catalytic converters have small inlets and outlets, and the baffles and parts inside the cases often create chock points.
If you are serious about getting more power from your Chevy Corvette exhaust system, both the mufflers and the catalytic converters need to be changed to high flow parts with inlets and outlets that match the exhaust pipe on the car. Complete system upgrades like this can increase the power and the torque in the engine without modifying it, and often the high-flow system improves the sound quality of the car, making your Corvette sound as good as it performs.
Share3 March 2022
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